Enrile joins House team vs Sereno

Manila, Philippines – House Justice Committee chairperson Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali has confirmed that former Senate President Juan Prince Enrile will be part of the prosecution team that will attempt to convict Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in her looming impeachment trial.

According to Umali, Enrile, 94, and a lawyer, would be of great help.

Umali said Enrile would most likely serve as adviser to the private prosecutors tapped by the 11-man House prosecution team which is composed of congressmen.

“Tama po yan…Siya naman ay available para tumulong sa prosecution nito,” Umali said following reports that Enrile has joined the effort to unseat Sereno before the Senate impeachment court.

The Justice panel voted 38-2 declaring probable cause in the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Larry Gadon against Sereno, who is an appointee of the Aquino administration.

The panel is now busy crafting the articles of impeachment which will be used by the senator-judges in determining the Chief Magistrate’s guilt. A conviction will result to removal from her post.

Umali described the assistance to be provided by Enrile as invaluable, noting that he was the presiding judge during the impeachment trial of Sereno’s predecessor, the late Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.